Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1887-01-19
A TALK FROM PHILADELPHIA

PHILADELPHIA, Jan. II, 1SS7.-AS
was walking down Chestnut street the
other day my attention was called to the
ruins of the Temple theatre. What re
manned of the handsome white and gold
front of this beautiful building was being
torn down by the ruthless hands of the
workmen employed for that purpose.
| believe the owners and occupants OF
the business places on the other side were
opposed to this remaining as long as it has.
Wandered round to the back entrance,
and from that point had a better view as
there was no remaining portion of the
structure to interfere. Nothing is left of
the interior save an an indistinguishable
mass of debris; and this, thought l, was,
only few weeks since, the most elegant
and one of the most prosperous places OF
amusement in the city.
Connected with it was the Egyptian
Muse" the figures which comprised the
entertainment here were of wax, and, as
may be supposed a mass of unshapen wax
is what remains But can we believe that
miracles have ceased when rising grand and
stately from the surrounding ruin we gaze
upon two figures, which though bound in
on all sides. above, below, everywhere, by
raging, maddening flames, still stands I'M
scathed, untouched. The figures are those
Of Christ and the Virgin Mary.
With bowed and uncovered head / viewed
then slowly made my way through the
crowd into broader thoroughfare, a more
thoughtful and perhaps wiser man.
l believe Philadelphia is generally con
sidered, by those fortunate people who live
in the western part of these United States,
to be Of small consequence, stupid, in fact
an ovcrgrown country village. We cannot
but ack Howlcdge that western cities have
more push and are as rule more thriv
ing than those in the east. always except
ing New York, which even prejudiced
Philadelphians must concede to be the
metropolis.
There is too much Of the Quaker ele
ment here for anything of that kind, and
yet what charming place it is in which
to live We do manage little variety in
the way Of operas plays and balls, both
private and public Friday evening for
will be held the first assembly at
the Academy of Music To this, though,
in measure public, only those who boast
of ancestors lost in the remoteness of time
can gain admittance This decree is as
as the laws of the Modes and |
Persans
Society keeps pretty well astir until Ash
Wednesday when the greater part of it
lays mourns and repents its sins at Old
Point Comfort or some other equally fash
enable resort.
Another craze has struck us, brought
rom Canada, or perhaps more recently
rom the West-tobngganing. The good
Did coasing days are over, when comforla-
)iy aTrdNtu III ClOtllnC we knew now To |
wear gracefully we could go easily and
afely from summit to bottom of some
GENTLY sloping hill, but like many more
good old customs this is speedily becoming
obsolete and now one decends
A slide at lightning speed As soon as the
obOggan starts the breath leaves ones
body, and is only recovered when on the
evel at the bottom his companion exclaims
"Oh! isn't it lovely" and then
lie realizes the pleasure he has missed by
hugging pretty girl
But it is a seductive moonlight night,
hough the air is cool, and during the walk
o the station they make up for the few un
conscious seconds passed on the toboggan
Tide, and when questioned at home they
eply that it is delightful, though that they
efer to something else might be guessed
rom the sidelong chances which the cul-
,rits cast at each other Ali well, let the
lear young things enjoy themselves while
hey may. BLAKE I